Clearly despite being a repaint this is one good suit and that henshin was a thing of beauty

I don't know where you get that idea, 'cuz when you compare RampageVulcan to Vulcan Shooting Wolf, the differences are super clear. The only part you could argue is the chest, and even that's not quite true.

But while I'm not particularly happy with Gai's victory (in part due to how undeserved it feels, considering how he never really lost anything when he logically should've), RampageVulcan's debut is one of the most fucking baller form debuts EVER. I debated whether or not I wanted the SHF of Vulcan Assault Wolf or RampageVulcan, and this debut really settled it. The highlights of this arc really have been Metalcluster Hopper's and RampageVulcan's debuts.

RampageVulcan henshin really feels like Blade King Form. I'm just worried that his final form was revealed too early and there are a lot more episodes to go and RV won't be as powerful when everyone else catches up.

RampageVulcan henshin really feels like Blade King Form. I'm just worried that his final form was revealed too early and there are a lot more episodes to go and RV won't be as powerful when everyone else catches up.

If anything, there's, like 16-20 episodes left in this show (for 45-49 total).

Final forms for secondary Riders (or new forms for everyone in general), from my experience with the franchise, never really seem to be "absurdly" powerful past their debut.

They're still powerhouses, just not as flashy. And they usually job when drama calls for it.

In terms of endgame power levels, I'd go ahead and assume that Rampage will be weaker than the final villain, who will be weaker than Zero-One by the end, with Valkyrie falling in-between somewhere (lest she get a final form, too).

Overall, I'd say Rampage will be fine.

...Unless Yuya Takahashi decides to throw a curveball and have him perform exponentially better/worse than previous secondaries.

Contrary to what many people are saying here. This corporate vs arc is as long as it needed to be.

Each 5 episodes sets up 2 things. 1) Humans are farked up, 2) Humagear are as heroic and inspiring as Humans.

Sure, Smug Gai smirking his way through victories is annoying, but he's supposed to be the smug CEO. Plus his consistency in psychopathy (which is a dominant trait in many many top level executives) really puts him in a position as the iconic darkness vs Aruto's iconic light.

Then we have Jin and Horobi, one who is really a tool of Arc and another being the first of his kind to be truly independent from either systems. They mirror the two humans Yua and Fuwa, one is a tool of Zaia while another is the first of his kind and aims to be truly independent from everything except his own goals and dreams and will.

Very nice juxtaposition.

Really enjoying this. And now we are kicking into the third act, things are starting to get serious.

I do wonder how would normal Hopper ever hope to win against Thouser though. But I'm more curious why Izu had to be reactivated and how did the zero one driver get back to Aruto.

I actually really was hoping that Aruto starts using other belts, that would have made an amazing twist in the KR shows where the main rider kept his belt throughout the show.

Contrary to what many people are saying here. This corporate vs arc is as long as it needed to be.

Each 5 episodes sets up 2 things. 1) Humans are farked up, 2) Humagear are as heroic and inspiring as Humans.

Sure, Smug Gai smirking his way through victories is annoying, but he's supposed to be the smug CEO. Plus his consistency in psychopathy (which is a dominant trait in many many top level executives) really puts him in a position as the iconic darkness vs Aruto's iconic light.

Then we have Jin and Horobi, one who is really a tool of Arc and another being the first of his kind to be truly independent from either systems. They mirror the two humans Yua and Fuwa, one is a tool of Zaia while another is the first of his kind and aims to be truly independent from everything except his own goals and dreams and will.

Very nice juxtaposition.

Really enjoying this. And now we are kicking into the third act, things are starting to get serious.

I do wonder how would normal Hopper ever hope to win against Thouser though. But I'm more curious why Izu had to be reactivated and how did the zero one driver get back to Aruto.

I actually really was hoping that Aruto starts using other belts, that would have made an amazing twist in the KR shows where the main rider kept his belt throughout the show.

I'm guessing Aruto asks of Jin to go to HIDENZAIA and grab both the Zero-One Driver and Izu because we see B.F. Jin out in the open city to which I assume is near HIDENZAIA

Contrary to what many people are saying here. This corporate vs arc is as long as it needed to be.

Each 5 episodes sets up 2 things. 1) Humans are farked up, 2) Humagear are as heroic and inspiring as Humans.

Sure, Smug Gai smirking his way through victories is annoying, but he's supposed to be the smug CEO.

Then we have Jin and Horobi.... They mirror the two humans Yua and Fuwa, one is a tool of Zaia while another is the first of his kind and aims to be truly independent from everything except his own goals and dreams and will.

Very nice juxtaposition.

Really enjoying this. And now we are kicking into the third act, things are starting to get serious.

I actually really was hoping that Aruto starts using other belts, that would have made an amazing twist in the KR shows where the main rider kept his belt throughout the show.

I agree with all your points. The arc itself was only 13 episodes (17-29), and while a good chunk of important stuff was happening outside the competition, the competition itself was a good framing device to build up Gai and Aruto's rivalry. Sure it was episodic, but I'd argue it was similarly episodic to the Metsuboujinrai arc (1-16).

EDIT: This arc's goal was to build up the Hiden-Amatsu feud and Gai's a pretty good archetype. Corrupt CEOs are almost a staple in hero shows (I think), and I'm happy they're doing it here.
What else were they gonna do? Have time travel or aliens pop up? Another Humagear uprising so soon after the Metsuboujinrai arc?
Back to Gai...
He's meant to be unlikable because he's the, as you said, the darkness to Aruto's light. Aruto may not be a good CEO, but he's got a lot of heart (business smarts might come up in the next arc, though, maybe?).
Every time he's on screen, with that callous grin on his face.... I want to dump juice on his outfit. Gallons of grape juice. Just to inconvenience him.

We have anywhere between 16 and 20 episodes left in this show, and I'd say that's enough for a final arc. Three act structure and all that.

Very excited for what happens next.

Also, I'd also liked it if Aruto used something like an AIMS Shotriser if only Hiden's CEO can use the Hiden Zero-One Driver.

I'm not sure how they're going to explain how Aruto can use it, but I'm sure they didn't explicitly state it shuts down for anyone but the CEO... so it's probably the exception (being the "only belt of its kind" against all the mass-produced belts) not the rule.

Yeah, so, I'm willing to say very very easily that Zero-One is good again! These two episodes alone were just phenomenal. We're finally seeing interesting things happen and things progressing... and special shoutout to Rampage Gatling, who really is exemplary of the "suit looks awful from photos, looks beautiful in action" trope. Oh, and he got a stupid good fight scene to go with it!

Though what especially got me was that preview at the end. After half a season of the first Reiwa series feeling exactly like a Heisei series - and I have no doubt that's going to continue - I wonder if this is how they intend to differentiate from the past going forward? Splitting up a series into two 'seasons' with two clearly defined settings. It'd be a clever way to do it honestly, and for once Zero One really does feel new.

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I had a super good idea for a signature but when I went to type it I forgot what it was so accept this instead

I still think what happened last episode was contrived to reach this point, but now that this competition is over, it's time where things really getting serious. Yeah, I expected this outcome to come a long way. Even if the mess with the rapper didn't happen the way it did, I knew humans will vote against HumaGears and result in ZAIA's victory.